Lionel Messi Brace Lifts Inter Miami Past Nashville SC

Lionel Messi brace headlines another memorable night in Fort Lauderdale as Inter Miami edged Nashville SC 2-1 to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race and etch a fresh chapter in Major League Soccer history.

Lionel Messi brace extends MLS record to five straight matches

The Argentine maestro wasted no time reminding the packed Chase Stadium why every home ticket sells out weeks in advance. In the 17th minute he whipped a wicked, low free-kick around the wall, catching keeper Joe Willis flat-footed and electrifying the pink-clad supporters. That strike pushed Messi’s tally of free-kick goals in MLS to seven, but more importantly it set the foundation for a fifth successive multiple-goal performance—an all-time league record that may take years to match, let alone break.

Nashville’s swift reply showcases Mukhtar’s class

Nashville SC, determined not to be spectators in Messi’s one-man show, emerged from the interval with renewed aggression. Just 46 seconds into the second half, 2022 MVP Hany Mukhtar ghosted between centre-backs Nicolás Freire and Sergii Krivtsov to meet Andy Najar’s looping cross. His precise header silenced the home crowd and reminded Inter Miami that their defensive lapses remain a concern despite their star-studded attack.

Messi pounces on Willis error to decide the contest

For all Nashville’s enterprise, one moment of indecision undid their hard work. In the 62nd minute Willis attempted a risky pass across his own box. Messi, ever the predator, anticipated it, intercepted, rounded the beleaguered goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net. The Lionel Messi brace was complete, and with it came three valuable points that hoist Miami to 38 on the season—just five behind conference-leading Philadelphia with three games in hand.

Key statistics from a Messi-inspired victory

• Five consecutive matches with a Lionel Messi brace; no other MLS player has recorded more than three.
• Messi has been directly involved in 18 of Inter Miami’s last 21 league goals (12 goals, 6 assists).
• Inter Miami have won five straight MLS fixtures for the first time in club history.
• Possession: Inter Miami 57% – 43% Nashville SC.
• Shots on target: Inter Miami 6 – 3 Nashville SC.

Player ratings: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC

Inter Miami (4-3-3)

Drake Callender 6/10: Rarely tested, faultless on the Mukhtar header.

Jordi Alba 7: Constant outlet down the left.

Nicolás Freire 6: Strong in duels but lost Mukhtar for the equaliser.

Sergii Krivtsov 6: Similar story to Freire.

DeAndre Yedlin 7: Energetic overlaps and key interception late on.

Sergio Busquets 8: Dictated tempo; 94% pass accuracy.

Benjamin Cremaschi 6: Industrious if unspectacular.

Luis Suárez 7: Clever movement created space for Messi, unlucky not to score.

Lionel Messi 9: Another Lionel Messi brace, took control when it mattered.

Robert Taylor 6: Worked hard on both ends.

Diego Gómez 6: Tactical fouls kept Nashville midfield at bay.

Nashville SC (4-2-3-1)

Joe Willis 4/10: His misguided pass gifted Messi the winner.

Shaq Moore 6: Contained Taylor for long stretches.

Walker Zimmerman 7: Leaders’ display; key blocks late.

Lukas MacNaughton 6: Solid yet unspectacular.

Daniel Lovitz 5: Struggled against Alba’s overlaps.

Aníbal Godoy 6: Shielded back line well.

Dax McCarty 5: Outrun by Busquets.

Alex Muyl 6: Relentless pressing.

Hany Mukhtar 8: Took his goal superbly, constant danger.

Andy Najar 7: Inventive crossing, assist for Mukhtar.

Sam Surridge 5: Limited service, peripheral.

Tactical breakdown

Tata Martino’s side maintained their now-familiar 4-3-3, using Busquets as the single pivot to funnel distribution through the centre. The full-backs pushed high, pinning Nashville’s wingers back and granting Messi freedom to drift centrally. Gary Smith responded with a compact 4-2-3-1, but once the visitors chased an equaliser, the game’s structure broke open, inviting the decisive mistake Willis ultimately made.

What the result means for the playoff picture

The victory extends Miami’s unbeaten run to six league fixtures, and with three games in hand they control their destiny in the Supporters’ Shield race. Nashville, meanwhile, sit seventh—still in postseason position but showing familiar inconsistencies on the road. Both clubs face midweek tests: Miami travel to high-flying FC Cincinnati, while Nashville host Colorado Rapids.

Reaction from the dressing rooms

Messi: “Records are nice but winning is better. The team keeps improving and that’s the most important thing.”

Martino: “I told the players at half-time not to panic; when you have Leo you always have a solution.”

Smith: “We matched them for long periods, but one lapse against Messi is one too many.”

Historical context of the Lionel Messi brace phenomenon

Prior to the 2025 campaign no player had scored braces in more than three straight MLS matches. The current streak of five by Messi shatters the benchmark held by Josef Martínez (2017) and Roy Lassiter (1996). Speaking statistically, if Messi continues at his present clip of 1.35 goals per 90 minutes, he is projected to finish with 42 league strikes—obliterating Carlos Vela’s single-season record of 34.

Can anyone stop the Argentine?

Opponents have alternated between man-marking Messi and sitting in low blocks, yet neither strategy has curbed his productivity. The presence of Suárez, plus Alba’s overlapping width, often pins defences, granting the No. 10 pockets of space on the edge of the area—territory from which he remains deadly with either foot.

Short opinion: brilliance meets inevitability

Every time the broadcast graphic flashes “Messi brace,” the achievement somehow feels both astonishing and inevitable. His integration into MLS is complete: he dominates games, dictates conversations and even bends historical precedent to his will. If rival clubs do not innovate quickly, the 2025 season may be remembered less as a competitive race and more as the year Lionel Messi brace became a weekly headline.